The Sustainability of Intensive Livestock Areas (ILAS): Network System and Conflict Potential from the Perspective of Animal Farmers

 The present study has determined the perceived consequences of an ILA on the production conditions of livestock farming systems based on the advantages of an agglomerated agri-food industry and the disadvantages of an increasing livestock concentration. It became obvious that the benefits of such ILAs can be understood according to their human and social capital. These elements, however, are both associated with a low geographic responsiveness to any increase in problems and so cause land use conflicts to increase. Their perception of the effects of being located within an ILA caused the livestock farmers in this survey to consider their production conditions more when formulating their demands with respect to policies concerning regional development and land use planning. Understanding this type of perception may help to counter current problems and to enhance the success of structural policies in ILAs

Manufacturing Process Simulation – On Its Way to Industrial Application

Manufacturing process simulation (MPS) has become more and more important for aviation and the automobile industry. A highly competitive market requires the use of high performance metals and composite materials in combination with reduced manufacturing cost and time as well as a minimization of the time to market for a new product. However, the use of such materials is expensive and requires sophisticated manufacturing processes. An experience based process and tooling design followed by a lengthy trial-and-error optimization is just not contemporary anymore. Instead, a tooling design process aided by simulation is used more often. This paper provides an overview of the capabilities of MPS in the fields of sheet metal forming and prepreg autoclave manufacturing of composite parts summarizing the resulting benefits for tooling design and manufacturing engineering. The simulation technology is explained briefly in order to show several simplification and optimization techniques for developing industrialized simulation approaches. Small case studies provide examples of an efficient application on an industrial scale

Disrupted neural activity patterns to novelty and effort in young adult APOE-e4 carriers performing a subsequent memory task

Introduction: The APOE e4 allele has been linked to poorer cognitive aging and enhanced dementia risk. Previous imaging studies have used subsequent memory paradigms to probe hippocampal function in e4 carriers across the age range, and evidence suggests a pattern of hippocampal overactivation in young adult e4 carriers. Methods: In this study, we employed a word-based subsequent memory task under fMRI; pupillometry data were also acquired as an index of cognitive effort. Participants (26 non-e4 carriers and 28 e4 carriers) performed an incidental encoding task (presented as word categorization), followed by a surprise old/new recognition task after a 40 minute delay. Results: In e4 carriers only, subsequently remembered words were linked to increased hippocampal activity. Across all participants, increased pupil diameter differentiated subsequently remembered from forgotten words, and neural activity covaried with pupil diameter in cuneus and precuneus. These effects were weaker in e4 carriers, and e4 carriers did not show greater pupil diameter to remembered words. In the recognition phase, genotype status also modulated hippocampal activity: here, however, e4 carriers failed to show the conventional pattern of greater hippocampal activity to novel words. Conclusions: Overall, neural activity changes were unstable in e4 carriers, failed to respond to novelty, and did not link strongly to cognitive effort, as indexed by pupil diameter. This provides further evidence of abnormal hippocampal recruitment in young adult e4 carriers, manifesting as both up and downregulation of neural activity, in the absence of behavioral performance differences

HIV-1 DNA/MVA vaccination reduces the per exposure probability of infection during repeated mucosal SHIV challenges

Historically, HIV vaccines specifically designed to raise cellular immunity resulted in protection from disease progression but not infection when tested in monkeys challenged with a single high virus exposure. An alternative approach, more analogous to human sexual exposures, is to repetitively challenge immunized monkeys with a much lower dose of virus until systemic infection is documented. Using these conditions to mimic human sexual transmission, we found that a multi-protein DNA/MVA HIV-1 vaccine is indeed capable of protecting rhesus monkeys against systemic infection when repeatedly challenged with a highly heterologous immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). Furthermore, this repetitive challenge approach allowed us to calculate per-exposure probability of infection, an observed vaccine efficacy of 64%, and undertake a systematic analysis for correlates of protection based on exposures needed to achieve infection. Therefore, improved non-human primate models for vaccine efficacy can provide novel insight and perhaps renew expectations for positive outcomes of human HIV clinical trials

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

The sustainable development of intensive livestock farming in Northwest Germany: operational challenges and approaches of livestock farmers in the region

Die Nutztierhaltung in Nordwestdeutschland befindet sich derzeit in dem empfindlichen Dilemma zwischen den wirtschaftliche Erfordernissen, welche der internationale Strukturwandel in der Nutztierhaltung an die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit stellt, und den derzeitigen Entwicklungspotentialen in der Region. Zum einen begrenzen die natürlichen Potentiale eine weiter ansteigende räumliche Verdichtung der Nutztierhaltung. Des Weiteren hat sich das gesellschaftliche Anforderungspotential an die Landwirtschaft als auch an den ländlichen Raum geändert und forciert keinen weiteren Anstieg der Nutztierhaltung. Die Bedingungen durch die hohe Tierdichte verlangen zunehmend, dass in Nordwestdeutschland eine nachhaltige Ausrichtung der Nutztierhaltung in höherem Maße verankert wird. Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt hierfür wesentliche Herausforderungen der Nutztierhaltung in den Bereichen Umweltschutz, der Tiergerechtheit intensiver Haltungssysteme und regionale Ressourcenkonflikte. Umweltschutz: Die Stoffdynamik von Stickstoff (N) und Phosphor (P) sämtlicher Betriebsgüter wurde auf sechs intensiven schweinehaltenden Betrieben über einen Zeitraum von 5 Jahren analysiert. Es wurde deutlich, dass die hohe Leistung und die leistungsbezogene Fütterung sich positiv auf Nährstoffeffizienz in der Tierhaltung auswirken, im Pflanzenbau jedoch Defizite bestehen. Insbesondere die Wahrnehmung der anfallenden Menge tierischer Exkremente als (N, P) Dünger ist unzureichend. Die Düngewirkung des Wirtschaftsdüngers [Unterschätzung N = 7,6 % (10,6 kg/ha), P = 33,6 % (11,6 kg/ha)], aber auch die Anwendung von Mineraldünger [N um 4,1 % (8,1 kg/ha), P um 12,7 % (1,5 kg/ha)] wurden deutlich unterschätzt. Als Folge hatten die Betriebe große Nährstoffverluste (104,5 kg N/ha; 11,7 kg P/ha) zu verzeichnen. Die Studie bewertet die kritischen Aspekte des Nährstoff-Managements und diskutiert mögliche Verbesserungen für die Zukunft. Tiergerechtheit intensiver Haltungssysteme: Auf drei Mastbetrieben intensiver Haltungsformen wurden jeweils sechs Analysen (wöchentlich) mit dem Bewertungssystem nach Welfare Quality® durchgeführt, um aufzuzeigen, inwiefern dieses geeignet ist, die Tiergerechtheit in intensiven Haltungssystemen zu analysieren. Es wird die Durchführbarkeit des Systems bewertet und analysiert, welche Rückschlüsse sich durch die Bewertung auf die Tiergerechtheit intensiver Haltungsformen ziehen lassen. In der Gesamtbewertung (excellent, enhanced, acceptable or not classified) wurden 72,3 % aller Untersuchungen der zweiten Bewertungskategorie "enhanced" zugeordnet, während 27,7 % die dritte Kategorie 7. Zusammenfassung 79 "akzeptabel" erreichten. Die Hauptkritikpunkte waren eine unzureichende Wasserversorgung, vorhandene Schleimbeutelentzündungen durch die Besatzdichte und das Ausleben natürlicher Verhaltensweisen. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass das Bewertungssystem grundsätzlich geeignet ist, die Tiergerechtheit in intensiven Haltungssystemen zu analysieren, jedoch scheinen nicht alle Messungen (insbesondere im Bereich „Good Housing“ und „Good Health“) empfindlich genug zu sein, um Unterschiede der Tiergerechtheit zwischen intensiven Haltungssystemen in ausreichendem Maße bewerten zu können. Weitere Analysen mit einer größeren Anzahl von Betrieben sind hier nötig. Die Arbeit diskutiert mögliche Ansatzpunkte für die Verbesserung der Tiergerechtheit intensiver Haltungssysteme und greift hierbei auch die derzeitige gesellschaftliche Diskussion auf. Wachsende Konkurrenz um begrenzte regionale Ressourcen: Die Studie stellt dar, welche Anreizmechanismen und Konflikte die Nutztierhalter als regionale Indikatoren für die Zukunftsfähigkeit des Standortes wahrnehmen. Auf Grundlage der theoretischen Erklärungsansätze für Auswirkungen von intensiven Tierhaltungsregionen ist ein Fragebogen konzipiert worden, welcher in Form einer Onlinebefragung bei 137 Landwirten in der gesamten Region Nordwestdeutschlands durchgeführt wurde. Es wird deutlich, dass sich die Nutztierhaltung, mit den regionalen Herausforderungen einer zunehmend verdichteten Tierhaltung deutlicher konfrontiert sieht, als vorteilhafte Produktionsbedingung wahrgenommen werden. Als bedeutende Ressourcenkonflikte sind eine ansteigende Flächenknappheit für die Verwertung des Wirtschaftsdüngers, die Anforderungen durch den Natur- und Landschaftsschutz als auch eine ansteigende Standortproblematik für Bauvorhaben ausschlaggebend. Im Gegensatz zu dieser hohen Wahrnehmung negativer Auswirkungen des Produktionsstandortes in Nordwestdeutschland wird noch erhebliches Potential für weitere Erweiterungsmöglichkeiten der Tierbestände in Nordwestdeutschland gesehen. Zugleich werden der intensiven Tierhaltung in Nordwestdeutschland auch bedeutende vorteilhafte Produktionsbedingungen zugesprochen. Die Nutzeffekte werden vor allem im human- und social-Kapital gesehen werden. Diese Elemente verursachen jedoch ebenso ein geringes geografisches Reaktionsvermögen auf die zunehmenden Problemstellungen und lassen die Raumnutzungskonflikte weiter ansteigen. Durch die Wahrnehmung der Standortauswirkungen trägt die Arbeit dazu bei, die Anforderungen der Nutztierhalter an die Produktionsbedingungen in der Regionalentwicklung stärker zu berücksichtigen und bestehenden Problemstellungen entgegenzuwirken